Memory Vocab

Question 1

activation, often unconsciously of particular association in memory–If someone was talking about a killer rat and you see a shadow of your cat you may be lead to believe it is a killer rat

Answer 1

priming

Question 2

memory that holds a few items briefly such as the 7 digits of a phone number while dialing–before the info is stored or forgotten

Answer 2

short-term memory

Question 3

basic defensive mechanism that pushes anxiety arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories away

Answer 3

repression

Question 4

attributing to the wrong source of an event we have experienced, heard about, read about, or imagined. the heart of many false memories

Answer 4

source amnesia

Question 5

neural center located in the limbic system; helps process explicit memories for storage

Answer 5

hippocampus

Question 6

organizing items into more manageable units such as a phone number or lock combo

Answer 6

chunking

Question 7

measure of memory in which the person only needs to identify items previously learned like a multiple choice test

Answer 7

recognition

Question 8

incorporating misleading info into one’s memory of an event

Answer 8

misinformation effect

Question 9

tendency to recall information that was first and last on a list

Answer 9

serial position effect

Question 10

memory aid–techniques that use vivid imagery and organizational devices

Answer 10

mnemonics

Question 11

the tendency for distributed study to get better long-term retention of info

Answer 11

spacing effect

Question 12

brief recording of sensory info into the memory system

Answer 12

sensory memory

Question 13

tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with ones prior good or bad mood

Answer 13

mood-congruent memory

Question 14

processing information into the memory system

Answer 14

encoding

Question 15

loss of memory

Answer 15

amnesia

Question 16

retention independent of conscious recollection

Answer 16

implicit memory

Question 17

processes of pulling encoded information out of storage

Answer 17

retrieval

Question 18

a clear memory of an emotionally significant event

Answer 18

flashbulb memory

Question 19

disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information (like trying to learn a new way of something or trying to fix a bad habit)

Answer 19

proactive interference

Question 20

mental pictures

Answer 20

imagery

Question 21

encoding that requires attention and conscious effort

Answer 21

effortful processing

Question 22

disruptive effect of new learning on recall of old info

Answer 22

retroactive

Question 23

newer understanding of short term memory that focuses on conscious, active processing

Answer 23

working memory

Question 24

encoding of meanings, including the meanings of words

Answer 24

semantic encoding

Question 25

encoding of sound

Answer 25

acoustic encoding

Question 26

measure of memory in which the person must retrieve info learned earlier as on a fill-in-the blank test

Answer 26

recall

Question 27

eerie sense as you have experienced a situation before

Answer 27

deja vu

Question 28

unconscious encoding of info such as time or well learned meanings of words

Answer 28

automatic processing

Question 29

encoding of pictures or images

Answer 29

visual encoding

Question 30

Persistence of learning over time through encoding, storage, and retrieval of information n

Answer 30

memory

Question 31

relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system. includes things like knowledge, skills, and experiences

Answer 31

long-term memory

Question 32

conscious repetition of info either to maintain or encode for storage

Answer 32

rehearsal

Question 33

momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli can be recalled for 3-4 seconds

Answer 33

echoic memory

Question 34

the retention of encoded info

Answer 34

storage

Question 35

increase in a synapse firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation. believed to be a neural basis for learning and memory

Answer 35

long-term potentiation

Question 36

momentary sensory memory of visual imagery lasting no more than a few tenths of a second

Answer 36

iconic memory

Question 37

memory of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and declare

Answer 37

explicit memory

Question 38

measure of memory that assesses the amount of time saved when learning material for a second time

Answer 38

relearning